As many as 50 rare Himalayan ibex, including females with their young ones, were spotted by officials of the World Wide Fund (WWF) near Khyber village in Hunza Valley.
According to WWF, the Himalayan Ibex is found at an average altitude of 3,660 meters and they usually come down the mountain due to snow and in search of food in the winter season.
Elaborating further, the animal rights body said: “The population faces numerous threats across its range in Pakistan, from habitat loss to illegal hunting, climate change, and lack of awareness about the species.”
“Despite these challenges, a significant increase has been recorded in their population as a result of continued and concerted efforts of the local community, Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife Department and WWF,” it added.
A survey conducted in 2019 by the government and local communities revealed that almost 1500 ibex were sighted in Ghulkin catchments in recent years.
“The sighting of such a large herd is a welcome indicator of the conservation success of WWF in its fiftieth year in Pakistan,” expressed WWF-Pakistan Senior Director Programmes Rab Nawaz.
Brace yourselves for some great news! On a recent trip to Gilgit-Baltistan, our team spotted a herd of about 50 Himalayan ibex near #Khyber village, #Hunza Valley.
While most of the time, we critics or drama viewers, complain about how Pakistani dramas have become redundant and monotonous with the same old storyline based on unrequited love, marital woes, or love triangles, every now and then comes a new drama that shakes things up and makes you believe in the drama industry once again.
Sarah Khan and Imran Ashraf’s ongoing drama Raqs e Bismil is one such example. Directed by Wajahat Rauf and written by Hashim Nadeem, the drama’s plot revolves around Sarah and Imran’s characters – Zohra and Moosa. Moosa comes from a very conservative background – he refuses to let his sister marry her love because he did not belong to the same sect – while Zohra belongs to a family of dancers and entertainers. The two cross paths on a bus and Zohra, who is wearing a burka at the time, catches Moosa’s attention, who immediately falls for her and her gutsy nature and asks her to marry him after their second meeting.
While Zohra initially rejects Moosa’s advances with some powerful dialogues, she later invites him to her home so that he can find out her reality first-hand. The third episode of the drama ends with Moosa finding out Zohra’s reality and viewers are excited to know what will happen next for the two protagonists, who are worlds apart.
The first three episodes were engaging and fast-paced with brilliant performances by the lead and supporting cast. Imran and Sarah were brilliant as Moosa and Sarah, while their chemistry was also lit. Moosa, in particular, has many shades and Imran manages to portray them flawlessly; fluidly switching between a hardened family-man and a man smitten. A special mention to Momin Saqib, who really gave a solid performance as Essa, Moosa’s brother and wingman.
Raqs e Bismal has quickly made it to our list of must-watch dramas and one we are delighted to recommend.
Engin Altan Düzyatan’s Pakistani host Kashif Zameer has claimed that the Diriliş: Ertuğrul star will be visiting Pakistan again in three days.
“Get ready for the Engin Kashif friendship blast,” said Kashif in an Instagram post.
Earlier, in an Instagram story, Kashif said that haters will be silenced soon once he and Engin are seen together.
It was earlier rumoured that Engin has cancelled his contract worth $1 million with Zameer’s Chaudhry Textiles after it was reported that the police have arrested Kashif for having a criminal record. Zameer, later trashed the rumours saying that Engin had assured him that the deal will not be disbanded.
Meanwhile, Engin has not yet commented on the matter or confirmed whether he will be coming to Pakistan.
Though Netflix usually refrains from revealing it’s official viewing figures, they occasionally release stats about their own shows, in a bid to promote their biggest successes. The streaming giant recently revealed that their Christmas release Bridgerton is expected to be viewed by 63 million households in its first four weeks making it it’s fifth-biggest original series so far.
In their first four weeks, it’s projected that 63 million households will have courted Shondaland’s Bridgerton and 44 million households will have suited up for Robert Rodriguez’s We Can Be Heroes, making this our biggest viewing week between Christmas and New Year’s ever! pic.twitter.com/dWoLCWn6NO
Here is the list of Netflix’s most-watched original series, as reported by Newsweek.
5. Bridgerton Season 1
Described as a period drama which sees Downton Abbey meets Gossip Girl, Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn’s best-selling romance novels. The show is a delightful mix of drama, romance, fantasy, gorgeous costumes and opulent sets. The series is indulgent and will have you hooked throughout.
As the world went into lockdown in mid-March 2020, Netflix’s docuseries about rival big cat owners in the United States Tiger King became a global sensation. Netflix said the series was viewed by 64 million households in its first four weeks.
3. Stranger Things Season 3
More than 64 million households watched the third season of Netflix’s mystery-thriller set in the 80s.
2. Money Heist Part 4
The only foreign-language drama to feature in the list, the fourth part of Money Heist was watched by at least 65 million people. The Spanish drama locally known as La Casa de Papel is about a group of thieves attempting to rob the Royal Mint of Spain.
1. The Witcher
Topping the list is The Witcher, which was watched by 76 million households in its first four weeks, as announced by Netflix in January 2020. Starring Henry Cavill, the series explores the legend of Geralt of Rivia and Princess Ciri, who are linked to each other by destiny.
Special mention to The Queen’s Gambit, the miniseries starring Anya Taylor-Joy which was reported to have been watched by 62 million households, making it Netflix’s biggest scripted limited series to date.
Meanwhile, here’s the list of Netflix’s most-viewed shows, as per Variety Magazine.
The Bollywood actor recently slammed a photographer and publication for capturing and posting her and husband Virat Kohli’s private moment.
Taking to Instagram, the mom-to-be posted the picture taken by the photographer and wrote, “Despite requesting the said photographer and publication, they still continue to invade our privacy.”
“Guys! Stop this right now,” added a furious Anushka.
Ever since Virat and Anushka announced their pregnancy in August, pictures of the couple and their baby bump have gone viral on social media. However, this time the actor decided to take a stand.
Earlier, in an interview to a fashion magazine, Anushka had said that she wants to raise her child away from media attention as she does not want to “raise brats”.
Anushka and Virat are expecting their first child this month. Their announcement tweet was the most-liked tweet of 2020.
Meanwhile, later when a fan lashed out at celebrity photographer Viral Bhayani for sharing pictures of the couple on a lunch date, Bhayani said Anushka “was concerned that her private home pictures were leaked and that is what irked her”.
He added that he is constantly in touch with her management to “check if there is any concern as distress is caused to them”.
Nadia Khan, who recently tied the knot, has spilled details about her husband Faisal Mumtaz on social media, saying that he is not new to the media.
In a social media post, the popular morning show host revealed that her husband is a retired PAF officer and fighter pilot.
“He is known to be one of the most competent and distinguished pilots with 30 years of Flying and Management experience with leading air forces of the world,” shared Nadia. “Faisal has over 4000 flying hours on Mirage, F-7, Hawk Grob, T-37, Cessna, and other aircrafts. Apart from that, he has topped all the major training courses both in Pakistan and the UAE. He retired from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as Wing Commander in 2009 after serving for 18 years and joined the UAE Air Force first as Instructor Pilot and then as Chief of Safety.”
She also revealed that her husband is not new to media since he was featured in ISPR’s song Hawa ka Sipahi by Najam Sheraz.
Nadia also revealed that “Faisal is the son of journalist and former director of News & Current Affairs PTV late Mumtaz Hamid Rao. Rao was one of the founders of Pakistan Television and one of the first journalists to set up PTV News.”
She added that her husband’s mother is a housewife and hails from Jammu.
Nadia also shared details of Faisal’s family, what his brothers do, adding that his son Hayyan is pursuing his engineering degree in the US.
While many initially believed that it is Nadia’s third marriage, the morning show host cleared the speculations with a comment in which she clarified that it was her second marriage.
“Kiaan is my adopted son and this is my second marriage,” wrote Nadia.
Have you ever seen a television show that you just want to immerse yourself into? One that makes you forget the mundaneness of everyday life and transports you to a realm where everything is perfect? Netflix’s latest Christmas release Bridgerton is just that.
Created by Shondaland, the production house behind Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder, Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn’s bestselling series of romance novels of the same name.
Set in 1813 London, the series opens with Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynover)of the illustrious Bridgerton family making her society debut. She is to find a husband during the upcoming social season and settle down by the time it wraps up. Though she was declared “flawless” by Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel), her brother Anthony Bridgerton’s (Jonathan Bailey) constant meddling and critique of potential suitors dampen her prospects which are further thwarted by Lady Whistledown, who writes that her “value” is falling. Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) is the city’s resident Gossip Girl, who reports on the happenings of the city and whose words are big deal.
Daphne and her mother
In comes the Duke of Hastings Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), the town’s most eligible bachelor, who has sworn not to get married. Daphe and Simon, who with a stroke of fate end up crossing paths and hatch a plan to fool society and Lady Whistledown by pretending to be together in a bid to make Daphne more desirable in society and him less pestered by eager mothers looking to set up their daughters. Will they be successful in fooling Lady Whistledown who knows everything and anything or will they be exposed? And even more, will Daphne find her perfect match?
Whether Daphne finds her match or not you’ll find out in the show, but Bridgerton has given us some major arranged marriage goals. Imagine landing yourself a rich and handsome Duke with the sexiest smoulder, one who has no immediate family (which mean no in-laws) and is smitten by you? One who is kind, caring and sensitive too. The stuff of dreams, right? Besides, Page plays the Duke to perfection owning every scene he is in and I won’t be lying if I say that we have a new hero to swoon over.
One the other hand, Daphne is also the season’s “diamond” – young, fair, pretty and innocent to the point that she had no idea how babies are made. The two are the perfect match, even if it is just a ruse and their chemistry is crackling – you can almost feel it through the screen.
Though Daphne and Simon are the main attractions, other characters on the show are also a delight to watch. My favourites have to be Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury and Eloise Bridgerton, Daphne’s younger sister. Eloise, who is not interested in getting married or following her sister’s footsteps adds the perfect comic relief, while Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury – both women of colour – add a different flavour to the show with their cool demeanour and wise words. Daphne’s mother is also a voice of reason and is shown as someone progressive and one who encourages her daughter to marry for love and not money and teaches her how the first step to a successful marriage is always friendship. Desi moms can definitely learn a thing or two from Mama Bridgerton.
Bridgerton, in a nutshell, is a dreamy and escapist – a delightful mix of drama, romance, fantasy, gorgeous costumes and opulent sets. The series is indulgent and will have you hooked throughout and by the end of it, even eight episodes will appear too less.
The show’s creator Chris Van Dusen, in a recent interview, said that series is a period drama which marries history and fantasy and is for a modern audience.
“The show is for a modern audience, and everything on this show is filtered through a modern lens. People talk quickly, the story moves fast, it’s funny, and it’s really sexy, which you don’t always get with a typical period piece,” said Dusen. “We’re re-imagining this world; it’s not a history lesson and it’s not a documentary. There weren’t actual Bridgertons in 1813, so we took some creative liberties there. The first thing you see is the cast, this amazing diverse cast, everyone from Phoebe Dynevor to Regé-Jean Page to Julie Andrews.”
Queen Charlotte
“We knew we wanted the show to reflect the world we live in today, and even though it’s set in the 19th century, we still wanted modern audiences to relate to it and to see themselves on screen. I feel we did it in a way that makes sense,” he adds.
Dusen’s vision and take on the show is perhaps the reason why the show resonated so well with audiences. Modern romcoms are fun to watch but there is something magical about period shows and Bridgerton is one done just right. The show is the perfect escape in such dreary times and as I told my friends, it is like a mug of hot chocolate on a freezing winter night.
While Netflix has not yet revealed whether the show will be coming back for a second season, given the show’s popularity, it is only a matter of time till they make an official announcement.
2020 has pretty much been all about COVID-19 and the pandemic. The year has perhaps been one of the most challenging ones in recent times and has been difficult for everyone. As the year nears its end, The Current decided to look back and reflect upon some happy moments which brought a smile to our faces.
Kaavan’s Relocation to Cambodia
After spending years chained in Islamabad Zoo, the world’s former ‘loneliest elephant’ Kaavan was relocated to a local sanctuary in Cambodia where he will spend the rest of his days in the open and among his own. Kaavan’s freedom was assisted by American singer Cher, who came to Pakistan to personally see Kaavan off. She also welcomed the elephant in Cambodia with a very cute nameplate.
As per the latest details, Kaavan has found new friends in Cambodia and has been spotted enjoying himself at his new home.
Kavaan’s case and relocation also paved the way for other animals to be relieved of their plight. A few weeks after he left, two brown Himalayan bears at the Islamabad Zoo Suzie and Babloo were sent to a sanctuary in Jordan where they will be rehabilitated and nursed to health. Following their departure, the Islamabad Zoo was shut down.
Tough anti-rape law
The federal cabinet approved tough new anti-rape law under which special courts will be established to speed up rape trials and convicted rapists and perpetrators will be chemically castrated. It also prohibits the disclosure of the identity of rape victims and will create a national sex offenders’ register.
Increased exports
Pakistan’s exports for the month of November passed the $2 billionmark amid a resurgence of economic activity after the coronavirus lockdown. As per reports, Pakistan’s move to loosen pandemic restrictions early has helped the nation’s exports emerge stronger than its South Asian peers including India and Bangladesh.
Construction of Hindu Temple
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) approved the construction of a new temple for minority Hindus, ruling that Islamic law allows minorities a place of worship. The CII also allowed the government to hand over the temple site as well as its adjoining Dharamshala (community centre) in Saidpur village of Islamabad to the Hindu community “so that it can offer religious rites as per their beliefs”. Many people including celebrities like Hamza Ali Abbasi lauded the initiative.
Mahira Khan, Dr Sania Nishtar among BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020’
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar and Mahira Khan were listed among BBC’s ‘100 women of 2020‘. According to the publication, the list included “100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2020”.
“This year 100 Women is highlighting those who are leading change and making a difference during these turbulent times,” said the publication.
While Mahira was lauded for her outspoken views against sexual violence, refusal to endorse skin-lightening creams and supporting the fight against racism, Dr Nishtar was honoured for “spearheading the transformative Ehsaas Poverty Alleviation programme, which has improved the livelihoods of millions of Pakistanis by providing mobile banking and savings accounts, and other basic resources.”
It is pertinent to add here that Mahira was also part of the inaugural Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars list, along with Aiman Khan and Atif Aslam. The list highlighted celebrities from across the Asia Pacific region who have taken the digital world by storm.
Have more good news to share? Let us know in the comments.
2020 has been an interesting year for Pakistani dramas with several controversial dramas hitting our screens this year. In terms of popularity, there is no denying that Meray Paas Tum Ho was television’s highest-watched dramas with a cult following. As we look back on this year, here’s a list of dramas which had the maximum number of views on YouTube till the filing of this story.
Note – We are only including episodes that aired in 2020 in this list. Views have been indicated in brackets.
Nand Episode 1 (12M)
Despite having close to 100 episodes, Nand continues to trend on YouTube and social media. The first episode of the show was fast-paced and thrilling. Not only are we introduced to nand Gohar (Faiza Hassan) and the rest of the family, we dive straight into the story, which is about a woman who likes to control everything and everyone around her. Apart from being very masalaydar and spicy, the drama also boasts solid performances by the lead cast.
Deewangi Last Episode (13M)
Danish Taimoor and Hiba Bukhari’s Deewangi ends with Nageen (Hiba) killing Sultan (Taimoor) and getting her happily ever after with Haroon (Ali Abbas), who first divorced her. Audiences loved the drama for its depiction of love that reached a point of madness and continued to root for Sultan till the very end, even though he commits several mistakes along the way because of his mad love for Nageen. The last episode of the drama was thrilling, intense and fast-paced with viewers hooked to it.
Ishqiya Episode 1 (15M)
The first episode of this intense romance involving two sisters featuring Feroze Khan, Hania Aamir and Ramsha Khan opens with a scene which will instantly remind you of Rahul and Anjali’s basketball matches in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The rest of the episode introduces us to the different characters and their relationship dynamics. Its ends with Azeem’s (Gohar Rasheed) family asking for Hamna’s (Ramsha) hand in marriage, who is in love with Hamza (Feroze).
The last bumper episode of Ehd e Wafa was initially scheduled to hit theatres but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan couldn’t fall through. The grand finale, which included a special appearance by Humayun Saeed, saw Captain Saad (Ahad Raza Mir) get injured in tensions on the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir, following which all four friends gather at the hospital to be on his side as he battles between life and death. The final episode was emotionally charged but ended on a happy note leaving viewers satisfied.
Though the second-last episode of the immensely popular Meray Paas Tum Ho was a slow one, it is one of the highest-viewed ones. The episode saw Mehwish (Ayeza Khan) shift back into her old house and use a wazeefa to try and win Danish back. She regrets the decisions she made and is wallowing in misery. On the other hand, Danish (Humayun Saeed) agreed to marry Hania (Hira Mani) and wore the ring she bought for him after Roomi proposed to her on behalf of his father. Meanwhile, Maham (Savera Nadeem) made sure she reminded Shehwar (Adnan Siddiqui) of his aukaat.
Ahsan Khan, who is a pro as far as hosting shows is concerned, is coming back to our TV screens with a new show called Time Out with Ahsan Khan.
Speaking exclusively to The Current, Ahsan shared that his new show is a “weekend celebrity show full of entertainment”.
“The kind of stuff we are doing, the way we have designed the show is very very different from the run of the mill stuff you see on television,” said Ahsan. “It’s nothing like what has been done before in Pakistan. It has a new feel, new set and a few fun games.”
“I think it will be very entertaining and enjoyable,” he added.
When asked how he has not yet gotten bored with hosting, considering he also hosted the hugely popular Bol Nights with Ahsan Khan recently, the actor said: “Bol Nights was 40 minutes long but did not cover the entire lives of my colleagues and celebrities. A lot of them are very interesting and I would like to have them on my show again.”
Giving a sneak peek into the show’s format, Ahsan went onto say that his upcoming show is different from his previous experiences.
“We have introduced a few new games on the show, so we will be playing a lot. This new show also has a very different kind of feel to it which you’ll see when you watch the episodes.”
“At the same time we are considering new people,” shared Ahsan. “We have so many celebrities. I mean if I interviewed around 125 people [for Bol Nights], we still have another 500 to go.”
“I think there is still so much left to explore,” stated Ahsan. “So many of my colleagues have new things and projects happening in their lives which I would love to talk to them about.”
Khan went onto say that he also plans to invite people from different walks of life on his show including sportspersons and other high achievers.
Time Out with Ahsan Khan is expected to start in January. According to Ahsan, it is a “new year gift” from him to everyone.
Meanwhile, Khan also has his hands full with various acting projects. He is currently shooting for his upcoming film Chakkar with Yasir Nawaz, Neelam Muneer and Javed Sheikh and his drama serial Qayamat also with Muneer is scheduled to go on-air in the coming weeks.
